Dr. Robert L. Berger V.M.D., 89, of Heidelberg Township, formerly of Shartlesville, died peacefully Aug. 13, 2012, in the Inpatient Hospice Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.

Born March 16, 1923, in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, he was the son of the late Robert L. Sr. and Lizzie H. (Long) Berger.

During the 1930s, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Having a great concern for his four-legged friends, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine on his birthday, March 16, 1946.

He served as senior class representative of A.V.M.A. and was a member of Phi Zeta and Omega Tau Sigma.

He taught veterinary anatomy while a member of the University of Pennsylvania Faculty from 1947-50.

He faithfully and honorably served his country in the U.S. Army and, after World War II, participated in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association.

In 1946, he used his veterinary expertise onboard the Edward W. Burton and SS Lindenwood Victory by transporting horses to impoverished war countries.

He was a life member of the Veterans of Upper Bern Township.

He was in private veterinary practice in Shartlesville before retiring his practice in the late 1970s.

He then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1975-90 as a medical officer supervising the inspection of local food processing plants and received numerous exemplary performance commendations.

Active in the life of his community, he was a life member of the Shartles-ville Fish and Game Club, served on the Hamburg School Board for 20 years, past president and secretary of the Hamburg Business Association, past president of the Hamburg Rotary Club, and served on the Environmental Advisory Committee and the Rural Preservation Association, both in Heidelberg Township.

His belief in the preservation of the environment for future generations led him to be one of the original founders of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club in the early 1970s as well as becoming a life member.

His survivors include his significant other, Patti Fenstermacher, with whom he resided; children Robert L. III of Fort Bragg, Calif. and Jill E. Berger of Shartlesville; grandchildren Ygraine G. Adams, Jeremy J.B. Gula, Eric Gula, Jillian Rolen and Orion Berger; great-grandchildren Eliana Adams, William and Athan Gula; and his four four-legged friends at home.

A Celebration of his Life, The Best of Bob Berger, pot luck, will take place 1-4 p.m. Oct. 14, at the Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Drive, Kempton. RSVP to 610-767-4774.

Expressions of sympathy may be recorded at heintzelmancares.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Forgotten Felines and Fidos, University of Pennsylvania Clinic and/or to the Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter, all c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.